The US Administration's actions are central, with sanctions lifted on a Brazilian judge, new sanctions against Venezuela, and President Trump brokering a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, while domestic issues include debates over AI regulation, immigration crackdowns, and a challenge to redistricting efforts in Indiana.

• U.S. Lifts Sanctions Against Justice Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil — New York Times World -
• Federal transportation officials reportedly sharing names of all US airport travelers with ICE - live — The Guardian -
• Trump Says Leaders of Thailand and Cambodia Agree to Cease-Fire — New York Times World -

• For Rubio the Cuba Hawk, the Road to Havana Runs Through Venezuela — New York Times World -
• How Ukraine Has Responded to Trump’s Peace Plan and Russia’s Demands for Territory — New York Times World -
• Canadians Rush to Buy Stockpiles of Boycotted U.S. Liquor — New York Times World -
• Trump demands Fed listen to him as he lines up new leader: ‘I’m a smart voice’ — The Guardian -
• Thailand and Cambodia agree to halt fighting, Trump says — BBC World -
• US treasury lifts sanctions on Brazilian judge who presided over Bolsonaro case — The Guardian -
• Lawsuit Challenges Park Service Passes Featuring Trump — New York Times World -
• Colombian rebels warn civilians of military drills amid ‘imperialist’ Trump threats — The Guardian -
• Thailand and Cambodia agree to restart ceasefire brokered by US, says Trump — The Guardian -
• US ends temporary legal status for Ethiopians amid Trump crackdown — The Guardian -
• Indiana’s rejection of new voting map shows Trump’s might is not unlimited — The Guardian -
• ‘The holy family is in hiding’: nativity scenes at US churches push back on ICE — The Guardian -
• Machado escape planner feared US strike on her vessel as it fled Venezuela — The Guardian -
• ‘They attacked my religion, my faith’: Muslim photojournalist detained by ICE speaks out — The Guardian -
• Nobel Peace Prize Winner Machado Says U.S. Helped Her Leave Venezuela — New York Times World -
• US agents increasingly arresting Afghan asylum seekers, lawyers say: ‘A huge chilling effect’ — The Guardian -
• First Thing: Indiana Republicans reject effort to redraw voting maps in rebuke to Trump — The Guardian -
• Trump officials ‘conspiring to illegally intimidate’ non-citizens via new VA report, lawmakers say — The Guardian -
• Trump signs order to block states from enforcing own AI rules — BBC World -
• Trump's Gaza peace plan struggles to progress as Israel and Hamas face tough choices — BBC World -
• Trump's Gaza peace plan struggles to progress as Israel and Hamas face tough choices — BBC World -
• Venezuela says Trump wants its oil. But is that the case? — BBC World -
• China Is Getting Much of What It Wants From the U.S., Including Chips — New York Times World -
• Indiana Republicans defy Trump to reject new voting map — BBC World -
• Trump signs order to block states from enforcing own AI rules — BBC World -
• Trump expands Venezuela sanctions as Maduro decries new ‘era of piracy’ — The Guardian -
• ‘I hope he loses’: Trump blasts Indiana Republican senate leader after his state redistricting effort gets blocked –as it happened — The Guardian -
• Trump signs executive order aimed at preventing states from regulating AI — The Guardian -
• U.S. Issues New Sanctions Targeting Maduro’s Family and the Oil Sector — New York Times World -

International tensions escalate with EU moves to freeze Russian assets to aid Ukraine, accusations of Russian cyberattacks against Germany, and a deadly hospital bombing in Myanmar, alongside continued arrests of Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran and UK sanctions on RSF commanders in Sudan.

• How Ukraine Has Responded to Trump’s Peace Plan and Russia’s Demands for Territory — New York Times World -
• Turkish car ferry damaged in strike at Ukrainian port — BBC World -
• Iran Arrests Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Amid Broader Crackdown — New York Times World -

• EU to freeze €210bn in Russian assets indefinitely — The Guardian -
• Russia Sues Holder of Frozen Assets Europe Wants for Ukraine Loan — New York Times World -
• Dozens Killed as a Hospital Is Bombed in Myanmar’s Brutal Civil War — New York Times World -
• EU backs indefinite freeze on Russia's frozen cash ahead of loan plan for Ukraine — BBC World -
• Germany Accuses Russia of Sabotage, Cyberattacks and Disinformation — New York Times World -
• Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi arrested in Iran, supporters say — BBC World -
• Eritrea quits regional bloc as tensions rise with Ethiopia — BBC World -
• Eritrea quits regional bloc as tensions rise with Ethiopia — BBC World -
• A Trickle of Aid Reaches a Captured, War-Ravaged City in Sudan — New York Times World -
• Nobel peace prize laureate Narges Mohammadi arrested in Iran — The Guardian -
• Germany accuses Russia of air traffic control cyber-attack — BBC World -
• RSF commander linked by BBC Verify to Sudan massacre sanctioned in UK — BBC World -
• For 2 Hours, a Soccer Match Offers Palestinians a Rarity: Joy — New York Times World -
• UK imposes sanctions on four RSF officers for ‘heinous’ mass killings in Sudan — The Guardian -
• Ukrainians, Worrying More About Power Cuts, See U.S. Peace Push as Just Noise — New York Times World -
• How Power Cuts Are Affecting Ukrainians — New York Times World -
• About 200 West African soldiers in Benin for 'clean-up' after failed coup — BBC World -
• Swiss Eurovision winner Nemo to return trophy in protest of Israel — BBC World -
• Swiss Eurovision winner Nemo to return trophy in protest of Israel — BBC World -
• Dozens killed in hospital strike in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state — The Guardian -
• Hamas Committed War Crimes in 2023 Attack on Israel, Amnesty International Says — New York Times World -
• Myanmar's army says it wants to eradicate scam compounds. Is it really doing that? — BBC World -

Significant legal developments include 81 women filing a civil suit against a US army gynecologist, the release of more Jeffrey Epstein photos, and **convictions for a Hollywood director's $11M fraud and crypto mogul Do Kwon's $40B scam, while Australia sees a famous crocodile wrangler jailed for evidence tampering and a childcare worker plead guilty to producing child abuse material**.

• 81 women file civil suit against army gynecologist already charged criminally — The Guardian -
• House Democrats release Epstein photos with Trump, Bannon, Clinton and others — The Guardian -
• More photos from Epstein estate show Trump, Clinton and former Prince Andrew — BBC World -

• Gateshead grooming gang members jailed for rape and sexual assaults — The Guardian -
• Louisiana pastor convicted of abusing teenage congregant — The Guardian -
• Man cleared of wife’s murder found guilty after child provides new evidence — The Guardian -
• Hollywood director found guilty of scamming Netflix out of $11m for phantom show — The Guardian -
• The Crime Involved Trash Bags. But It Wasn’t a Mob Caper. — New York Times World -
• Ghanaian influencer charged over $8m scam targeting elderly Americans — BBC World -
• Ghanaian influencer charged over $8m scam targeting elderly Americans — BBC World -
• Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright sentenced to 10 months’ jail after fatal helicopter crash — The Guardian -
• Nationwide fined £44m by watchdog for financial crime control failings — The Guardian -
• Louvre Heist Was Filmed Live, but the Guards Weren’t Watching — New York Times World -
• Crypto mogul Do Kwon sentenced to 15 years in prison for fraud — The Guardian -
• Conflict between judge and NSW prosecutors referred to powerful privileges committee amid ‘intimidation’ concern — The Guardian -
• Famous crocodile wrangler jailed for evidence tampering — BBC World -
• Famous crocodile wrangler jailed for evidence tampering — BBC World -
• Former ANZ boss sues bank over cancelled bonuses – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Brittany Higgins declared bankrupt after Linda Reynolds wins defamation case — The Guardian -
• Sydney after-school childcare worker pleads guilty to using children to produce child abuse material — The Guardian -
• British backpacker on e-scooter given four years’ jail for Western Australia crash death — The Guardian -
• Don Farrell charged taxpayers more than $2,200 to travel to Canberra on same weekend he attended wedding — The Guardian -
• Sydney after-school childcare worker pleads guilty to using children to produce child abuse material — The Guardian -
• Crypto fraudster sentenced for 'epic' $40bn stablecoin crash — BBC World -
• Tricked, abducted and abused: Inside China's schools for 'rebellious' teens — BBC World -
• Tricked, abducted and abused: Inside China's schools for 'rebellious' teens — BBC World -

Severe weather events and environmental policy debates dominate, with cyclone aftermath in Sri Lanka, flooding across the Pacific Northwest, and an ancient lake reappearing in Death Valley, while Australia grapples with bushfires and controversial offshore gas and coalmine expansions that environmentalists call an 'environmental betrayal'.

• In a Hamlet Built on Forbidden Love, a Cyclone Buried It All — New York Times World -
• Cyclone Aftermath in Sri Lanka — New York Times World -
• Ancient lake reappears in Death Valley after record-breaking rains — The Guardian -

• Flooding remains threat in Pacific north-west as Washington declares emergency — The Guardian -
• Opening up Victoria’s Otway basin to offshore gas exploration an ‘environmental betrayal’, Greens say — The Guardian -
• Coalmine expansions would breach climate targets, NSW government warned in ‘game-changer’ report — The Guardian -
• Indonesia floods were ‘extinction level’ disturbance for world’s rarest ape — The Guardian -
• EA to spend millions clearing Oxfordshire illegal waste mountain in break with policy — The Guardian -
• Weather tracker: Australia bushfires could be most dangerous since ‘black summer’ — The Guardian -
• Climate protesters win groundbreaking class action against Victoria police over use of capsicum spray — The Guardian -
• Here’s What to Know About Japan’s Mega Quake Advisory — New York Times World -
• Thousands ready to evacuate as flooding hits Pacific Northwest — BBC World -
• Fears grow that world's rarest apes were swept away in Sumatran floods — BBC World -

King Charles shares positive updates on his cancer treatment, NHS faces potential collapse due to flu and resident doctor strikes, and the political landscape shifts with Reform UK claiming to overtake Labour, while debates continue over the assisted dying bill and the Met police face scrutiny over vetting and handling of protests.

• King Charles Shares ‘Good News’ About His Cancer Treatment in Video Message — New York Times World -
• Joanna Trollope, Popular British Author, Dies at 82 — New York Times World -
• King Charles hails reduction in cancer treatment as ‘milestone’ in his recovery — The Guardian -

• Government’s process behind tackling violence against women ‘worse than under the Tories’ — The Guardian -
• Reform UK claims it has overtaken Labour as Britain’s largest party — The Guardian -
• ‘Beyond belief’ that resident doctors could strike amid flu crisis, says Starmer — The Guardian -
• Kylie Minogue gets 11th UK No 1 album as Christmas No 1 race intensifies — The Guardian -
• ‘There’s been a Badenoch bounce’: is the Tory leader finally cutting through? — The Guardian -
• UK politics: Trump talks ‘complete nonsense’ about crime in London, says Met police commissioner – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Pro-Palestine activists daub MoJ building with red paint in protest over hunger strikers — The Guardian -
• Christmas tree in Durham village chopped down hours after lights switched on — The Guardian -
• Primal Scream defend image of swastika inside Star of David shown during London gig — The Guardian -
• Tory transport culture wars risked making roads less safe, says minister — The Guardian -
• Met police agree to pay £7,500 to woman arrested over Gaza protest placard — The Guardian -
• ‘Cruel’ amendments being used to thwart assisted dying bill, says lead MP — The Guardian -
• Strikes could collapse flu-hit NHS amid worst crisis since Covid, says Streeting — The Guardian -
• UK economy shrank unexpectedly before budget, data shows — The Guardian -
• Met police face independent inquiry over fears 300 recruits not properly vetted — The Guardian -
• Guardian charity appeal donations top £200,000 before annual telethon — The Guardian -
• MPs announce inquiry into work of Office for Budget Responsibility — The Guardian -

President Trump's executive order aims to block states from enforcing their own AI rules, while Reddit challenges Australia's ban on social media for under-16s in high court, raising concerns over privacy and political rights, and federal transportation officials reportedly share traveler names with ICE.

• Federal transportation officials reportedly sharing names of all US airport travelers with ICE - live — The Guardian -
• Trump signs order to block states from enforcing own AI rules — BBC World -
• Reddit Sues Australian Government to Block Social Media Ban — New York Times World -

• Reddit launches high court challenge to Australia’s under-16s social media ban — The Guardian -
• Trump signs order to block states from enforcing own AI rules — BBC World -
• Trump signs executive order aimed at preventing states from regulating AI — The Guardian -
• Reddit launches High Court challenge to Australia's social media ban for kids — BBC World -
• Reddit launches High Court challenge to Australia's social media ban for kids — BBC World -

A variety of cultural and local stories emerge, including Kylie Minogue's 11th UK No. 1 album, Italian PM Meloni's celebration at a far-right festival, and Gen Z protests impacting Bulgarian leadership, alongside the success of the video game 'Clair Obscur' at The Game Awards and South Korea's exam chief resigning over a difficult English test.

• ‘Did We Do That?’ Gen Z Protesters Help Tip Balance Against Bulgaria’s Leaders — New York Times World -
• Farmers call for French blockades over cow disease cull — BBC World -
• Exposed: the business linked to baby deaths across the world – The Latest — The Guardian -

• ‘What is going on here?’ Meloni celebrated at Italy’s far-right Atreju Christmas festival — The Guardian -
• ‘The attrition is setting in’: how Oregon’s magic mushroom experiment lost its way — The Guardian -
• The ATO is meant to be bringing work back in-house. But its target to cut consultants is ‘woefully inadequate’ — The Guardian -
• Maria Balshaw to step down as director of Tate after nine years — The Guardian -
• Inside the Colombian cathedral built 180m underground — BBC World -
• Inside the Colombian cathedral built 180m underground — BBC World -
• Digested week: Rejoice! A new oven is here before Christmas. Just a pity I can’t cook | Lucy Mangan — The Guardian -
• South Korea exam chief quits after complaints English test was too hard — The Guardian -
• Clair Obscur sweeps The Game Awards with nine wins — BBC World -
• Clair Obscur sweeps The Game Awards with nine wins — BBC World -
• Prada to launch $930 'Made in India' Kolhapuri sandals after backlash — BBC World -
• 'It was little kids': Taylor Swift breaks down as she talks of Southport attack — BBC World -
• Taylor Swift shown breaking down in tears after she met UK attack families — BBC World -
• Taylor Swift shown breaking down in tears after she met UK attack families — BBC World -
• Geminid meteor shower set to light up sky during weekend peak — BBC World -
• Thai PM dissolves parliament to 'return power to people' — BBC World -
• The Reject Shop faces a legal threat from a UK artist over a flamingo egg cup. Does it have a leg to stand on? — The Guardian -
• Thailand set for early elections amid political deadlock and Cambodia skirmishes — The Guardian -
• Liam Neeson denies anti-vax views after narrating Covid documentary — The Guardian -